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Selected Verse: 2 Timothy 2:5 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
2Ti 2:5	Strong Concordance	And [1161] if [1437] a man [5100] also [2532] strive [118] for masteries, yet is he [4737] not [3756] crowned [4737], except [3362] he strive [118] lawfully [3545].
	King James	And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
And--"Moreover." strive for masteries--"strive in the games" [ALFORD]; namely, the great national games of Greece. yet is he not crowned, except--even though he gain the victory. strive lawfully--observing all the conditions of both the contest (keeping within the bounds of the course and stript of his clothes) and the preparation for it, namely, as to self-denying diet, anointing, exercise, self-restraint, chastity, decorum, &c. (Co1 9:24-27).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

And--"Moreover."

strive for masteries--"strive in the games" [ALFORD]; namely, the great national games of Greece.

yet is he not crowned, except--even though he gain the victory.

strive lawfully--observing all the conditions of both the contest (keeping within the bounds of the course and stript of his clothes) and the preparation for it, namely, as to self-denying diet, anointing, exercise, self-restraint, chastity, decorum, &c. (Co1 9:24-27).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
And if a man also strive for masteries - As in the Grecian games. See this favorite illustration of Paul explained in the notes at Co1 9:24 ff. Yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully - In conformity with the rules of the games. See Grotius, in loc. No one could obtain the prize unless he had complied with all the laws of the games, and had thus given to those with whom he contended, a fair opportunity to succeed. "In those contests, he who transgressed the rules in the least matter, not only failed of the prize, even though the apparent victor, but was sometimes disgraced and punished." Pictorial Bible. So the apostle here represents the Christian minister as engaged in a struggle or conflict for the crown. He says that he could not hope to win it unless he should comply with all the laws by which it is conferred; unless he should subdue every improper propensity, and make an effort like that evinced by the combatants at the Olympic games; compare the notes at Co1 9:26-27.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Strive for masteries (ἀθλῇ) N.T.o. olxx. Paul uses ἀγωνίζεσθαι (see Co1 9:25), which appears also in Ti1 4:10; Ti1 6:12; Ti2 4:7. For masteries is superfluous. Rev. contend in the games; but the meaning of the verb is not limited to that. It may mean to contend in battle; and the preceding reference to the soldier would seem to suggest that meaning here. The allusion to crowning is not decisive in favor of the Rev. rendering. Among the Romans crowns were the highest distinction for service in war. The corona triumphalis of laurel was presented to a triumphant general; and the corona obsidionalis was awarded to a general by the army which he had saved from a siege or from a shameful capitulation. It was woven of grass which grew on the spot, and was also called corona graminea. The corona myrtea or ovatio, the crown of bay, was worn by the general who celebrated the lesser triumph or ovatio. The golden corona muralis, with embattled ornaments, was given for the storming of a wall; and the corona castrensis or vallaris, also of gold, and ornamented in imitation of palisades, was awarded to the soldier who first climbed the rampart of the enemy's camp. Is he not crowned (οὐ στεφανοῦται) The verb only here and Heb 2:7, Heb 2:9. For στέφανος crown, see on Rev 2:9; see on Rev 4:4; see on Pe1 5:4. Paul has στέφανον λαβεῖν, Co1 9:25. Lawfully (νομίμως) Pasto. See Ti1 1:8. According to the law of military service which requires him to abandon all other pursuits. So the law of the ministerial office requires that the minister shall not entangle himself with secular pursuits. If he fulfills this requirement, he is not to trouble himself about his worldly maintenance, for it is right that he should draw his support from his ministerial labor: nay, he has the first right to its material fruits.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
If a man also strive for masteries - Εαν δε και αθλῃ τις· If a man contend in the public games - the Olympic or Isthmian games among the Greeks, so often alluded to and particularly explained in the notes on Co1 9:24-26, to which the reader is referred for a full illustration of this verse. Is he not crowned - Though he may have conquered, except he strive lawfully - unless he enter according to the rules of the athlete, and act as these direct. No man, however zealous he may have been, is to expect the Well done, good and faithful servant, from Jesus Christ, unless he have labored in the word and doctrine, preached the truth as it is in Jesus, and built up the Church upon Him who is its only Foundation.

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²⁴ Know ye [1492] not [3756] that [3754] they which run [5143] in [1722] a race [4712] run [5143] all [3956] [3303], but [1161] one [1520] receiveth [2983] the prize [1017]? So [3779] run [5143], that [2443] ye may obtain [2638].
²⁵ And [1161] every man [3956] that striveth for the mastery [75] is temperate [1467] in all things [3956]. [3303] Now [3767] they [1565] do it to [2443] obtain [2983] a corruptible [5349] crown [4735]; but [1161] we [2249] an incorruptible [862].
²⁶ I [1473] therefore [5106] so [3779] run [5143], not [3756] as [5613] uncertainly [84]; so [3779] fight I [4438], not [3756] as [5613] one that beateth [1194] the air [109]:
²⁷ But [235] I keep under [5299] my [3450] body [4983], and [2532] bring it into subjection [1396]: lest that by any means [3381] [4458], when I have preached [2784] to others [243], I myself [846] should be [1096] a castaway [96].

²⁶ I [1473] therefore [5106] so [3779] run [5143], not [3756] as [5613] uncertainly [84]; so [3779] fight I [4438], not [3756] as [5613] one that beateth [1194] the air [109]:
²⁷ But [235] I keep under [5299] my [3450] body [4983], and [2532] bring it into subjection [1396]: lest that by any means [3381] [4458], when I have preached [2784] to others [243], I myself [846] should be [1096] a castaway [96].

⁸ But [1161] we know [1492] that [3754] the law [3551] is good [2570], if [1437] a man [5100] use [5530] it [846] lawfully [3545];

²⁵ And [1161] every man [3956] that striveth for the mastery [75] is temperate [1467] in all things [3956]. [3303] Now [3767] they [1565] do it to [2443] obtain [2983] a corruptible [5349] crown [4735]; but [1161] we [2249] an incorruptible [862].

⁴ And [2532] when the chief Shepherd [750] shall appear [5319], ye shall receive [2865] a crown [4735] of glory [1391] that fadeth not away [262].

⁴ And [2532] round about [2943] the throne [2362] were four [5064] and [2532] twenty [1501] seats [2362]: and [2532] upon [1909] the seats [2362] I saw [1492] four [5064] and [2532] twenty [1501] elders [4245] sitting [2521], clothed [4016] in [1722] white [3022] raiment [2440]; and [2532] they had [2192] on [1909] their [846] heads [2776] crowns [4735] of gold [5552].

⁹ I know [1492] thy [4675] works [2041], and [2532] tribulation [2347], and [2532] poverty [4432], (but [1161] thou art [1488] rich [4145]) and [2532] I know the blasphemy [988] of them which [3588] say [3004] they [1438] are [1511] Jews [2453], and [2532] are [1526] not [3756], but [235] are the synagogue [4864] of Satan [4567].

⁹ But [1161] we see [991] Jesus [2424], who [3588] was made [1642] a little [1024] [5100] lower [1642] than [3844] the angels [32] for [1223] the suffering [3804] of death [2288], crowned [4737] with glory [1391] and [2532] honour [5092]; that [3704] he [1089] by the grace [5485] of God [2316] should taste [1089] death [2288] for [5228] every man [3956].

⁷ Thou madest [1642] him [846] a little [1024] [5100] lower [1642] than [3844] the angels [32]; thou crownedst [4737] him [846] with glory [1391] and [2532] honour [5092], and [2532] didst set [2525] him [846] over [1909] the works [2041] of thy [4675] hands [5495]:

⁷ I have fought [75] a good [2570] fight [73], I have finished [5055] my course [1408], I have kept [5083] the faith [4102]:

¹² Fight [75] the good [2570] fight [73] of faith [4102], lay hold on [1949] eternal [166] life [2222], whereunto [1519] [3739] thou art [2564] also [2532] called [2564], and [2532] hast professed [3670] a good [2570] profession [3671] before [1799] many [4183] witnesses [3144].

¹⁰ For [1063] therefore [1519] [5124] we [2872] both [2532] labour [2872] and [2532] suffer reproach [3679], because [3754] we trust [1679] in [1909] the living [2198] God [2316], who [3739] is [2076] the Saviour [4990] of all [3956] men [444], specially [3122] of those that believe [4103].